Meliá opens Hotel Torre Melina and doubles down on its commitment to Barcelona

New stage in one of Barcelona's most emblematic hotels. The establishment formerly known as Hotel Rey Juan Carlos reopens this Wednesday after COVID dealt the final blow to an operation affected by a hefty debt of 180 million euros. Under the Meliá Group brand, the establishment has undergone a deep rehabilitation that has not only renovated its interior but has also taken away its name, with a protagonist figure now less popular than when it was inaugurated during the 1992 Olympic Games. From now on, it will be called Torre Melina, taking its name from a 12th-century farmhouse on whose grounds the complex is located.

Hotel Torre Melina begins this second life integrated into the luxury brand Gran Meliá, which encompasses the highest category establishments of the Balearic family group, becoming the first to hold this title in Barcelona. Meliá thus reinforces its commitment to the city, where at the end of 2021 it inaugurated a five-star hotel, the ME by Meliá, on Casp street. In the Catalan capital, it also operates the Barcelona Sky skyscraper hotel, the Meliá Sarrià, and the Condal Mar and Apolo hotels.

The new owner of the real estate asset, Tyrus Capital, who prevented the establishment from ending up in liquidation after suspending payments, has undertaken an investment of 40 million euros for the facelift and repositioning of the hotel. The investment fund's plans included reincorporating 100% of the nearly 300 employees of the complex who were still on ERTE since its closure in 2020. When the hotel operates at full capacity, the staff will grow to 400 workers.

With the reopening of the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya last October, also closed since 2020, the Torre Melina aims to position itself in the increasingly growing meetings and congress tourism (MICE) in Barcelona. In this sense, the choice of the opening date is not surprising, one month before the celebration of the main fair hosted by the city, the Mobile World Congress (MWC), days marked on the calendar of different economic agents to inaugurate the tourist season, from hotels to taxis and catering and leisure establishments. Before the MWC, the hotel will be able to test its success among this niche audience with the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), the largest audiovisual fair in Europe. A highlight date for the renovated hotel and congress complex will be the annual meeting of the Cercle d'Economia. The meeting will leave its location in recent editions, the W Hotel, and will move this year to the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya.

Fewer rooms and new restaurants

With a total of 391 rooms, about 40 fewer than in the previous stage, the Torre Melina incorporates a 300 square meter penthouse, with its own terrace, as well as some suites designed for long stays, with bedroom, kitchen and living room. More than 14 types of rooms that will have prices starting from 300 euros per night. The restaurant offer will consist of five proposals, among which Beso Pedralbes stands out, next to the hotel pool and with a focus on Basque grills; Erre de Urrechu Barcelona, in the lobby and led by Íñigo Urrecho, with a menu consisting of seasonal organic vegetables, wild fish, national and international meats and more than 200 wines, and Chroma, directed by bartender Erik Lorincz. All this, surrounded by more than 25,000 square meters of garden.